This best-selling brief text shows students how to analyze all kinds of argument - not just essays and editorials,
but clothes, cars, ads, and even Web site designs - and then how to use what they learn to write effective arguments.
Table of Contents
PART I. READING ARGUMENTS
1. Everything Is an Argument
*NOT JUST WORDS
Purposes
Of Argument Arguments to Inform Arguments to Convince Arguments to
Explore Arguments to Make Decisions Arguments to Meditate or Pray
Occasions for Argument Arguments About the Past Arguments About the
Future Arguments About the Present CULTURAL CONTEXTS FOR ARGUMENT Kinds
of Argument Arguments of Fact -- Did Something Happen? Arguments of Definition -- What Is the Nature of the Thing? Arguments of Evaluation -- What Is the Quality of the Thing? Proposal Arguments -- What Actions Should Be Taken? *Stasis Questions at Work *Audiences for Arguments *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... *Appealing to Audiences *Emotional Appeals *Ethical Appeals *Logical Appeals *Arguments and their Rhetorical Situations Respond
2. Arguments from the Heart *NOT JUST WORDS Understanding How Emotional Arguments Work Using Emotions to Build Bridges *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARUMENT... Using Emotions to Sustain an Argument Using Humor Using Arguments from the Heart Respond
3. Arguments Based on Character *NOT
JUST WORDS Understanding How Arguments Based on Character Work Claiming
Authority CULTURAL CONTEXTS FOR ARGUMENT Establishing Credibility *Coming Clean about Motives *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Respond
4. Arguments Based on Facts and Reason *NOT JUST WORDS Hard Evidence Reason and Common Sense Logical Structures for Argument *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Respond
*5. Thinking Rhetorically *Composing a Rhetorical Analysis *Understanding the Purpose of An Argument *Understanding What Makes an Argument *Identifying and Appealing to Audiences *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... *Examining Arguments from the Heart: Pathos *Examining Arguments Based On Character *Examining Arguments Based On Fact And Reason *Examining The Shape and Media of Arguments *NOT JUST WORDS *Looking at Style *Examining A Rhetorical Analysis Derek Bok, Protecting Freedom of Expression at Harvard Milena Ateya, A Curse and a Blessing *Guide to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis *Finding a Topic
*Researching Your Topic *Formulating a Claim *Examples of Possible Claims for a Rhetorical Analysis *Preparing a Proposal *Thinking about Content and Organization *Getting and Giving Response *Respond
PART II. WRITING ARGUMENTS
6. Structuring Arguments *NOT JUST WORDS Toulmin Argument CULTURAL CONTEXTS FOR ARGUMENT *Outline of a Toulmin Argument *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... A Toulmin Analysis Alan M. Dershowitz, Testing Speech Codes *What Toulmin Teaches Beyond Toulmin Respond
*7. Arguments of Fact *Understanding Arguments of Fact *NOT JUST WORDS *Characterizing Factual Arguments *Developing a Factual Argument *Identifying an Issue *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... *Key Features of Factual Arguments *Guide to Writing an Argument of Fact *Finding a Topic *Researching a Topic *Formulating a Hypothesis *Examples of Arguable Factual Claims *Preparing a Proposal *Thinking about Organization *Getting and Giving Response *Respond *Two Sample Factual Arguments *Michael Osofsky, "The Psychological Experience of Security Officers Who Work With Executions" *FactCheck.Org, "Abortion Distortions"
8. Arguments of Definition *NOT JUST WORDS Understanding Arguments of Definition Kinds of Definition *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Developing
a Definitional Argument Key Features of Definitional Arguments Guide to
Writing an Argument of Definition Respond Two Sample Definitional
Arguments Sayoh Mansaray, "The Offbeat Allure of Cult Films" Lynn Peril, "Pink Think"
9. Evaluations Understanding Evaluations Criteria of Evaluations Characterizing Evaluation *NOT JUST WORDS Developing an Evaluative Argument *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Key
Features of Evaluations Guide to Writing an Evaluative Argument Respond
Two Sample Evaluations Nisey Williams, "Why I Hate Britney" *Jon Pareles, "The Case Against Coldplay"
10. Causal Arguments Understanding Causal Arguments Characterizing Causal Arguments *NOT JUST WORDS Developing Causal Arguments *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Key
Features of Causal Arguments Guide to Writing a Causal Argument Respond
Two Sample Causal Arguments La Donna Beatty, "What Makes a Serial
Killer?" *Dana Gioia, "Why Literature Matters"
11. Proposals Understanding and Categorizing Proposals *Proposals about Practices *Proposals
about Policies Characterizing Proposals Developing Proposals Key
Features of Proposals Guide to Writing a Proposal Respond *NOT JUST WORDS *IF EVERYTHING'S AN ARGUMENT... Two Sample Proposals *Manasi Deshpande, "A Call to Improve Campus Accessibility for the Mobility Impaired" *P.J. O'Rourke, "Mass Transit Hysteria"
PART III. STYLE AND DELIVERY IN ARGUMENTS
*12. Style and Argument *NOT JUST WORDS *Style and Word Choice *Sentence Structure And Argument *Punctuation and Argument Tropes Schemes Dangers of Unduly Slanted Language Respond
13. Humor In Arguments Understanding
Humor as Argument Characterizing Kinds of Humor Developing Humorous
Arguments Key Features of Humorous Arguments Respond
14. Visual Arguments The
Power of Visual Arguments Shaping The Message Achieving Visual Literacy
Analyzing Visual Elements of Arguments Using Visuals in Your Own
Arguments Respond
*15. Presenting Arguments *Print Presentations *Oral/Multimedia Presentations The Role of Visuals in Oral/Multimedia Arguments *Web-Based Presentations *Respond
PART IV. CONVENTIONS OF ARGUMENT
16. What Counts as Evidence Evidence
and the Rhetorical Situation Firsthand Evidence and Research CULTURAL
CONTEXTS FOR ARGUMENT Secondhand Evidence and Research *Two Important Distinctions Some Questions for Beginning Research Using Evidence Effectively Respond
17. Fallacies of Argument Flashpoints
of Emotional Argument Scare Tactics Either-Or Choices Slippery Slope
Sentimental Appeals Bandwagon Appeals Flashpoints of Ethical Argument
Appeals to False Authority Dogmatism Moral Equivalence Ad Hominem
Arguments Flashpoints of Logical Argument Hasty Generalization Faulty
Causality Begging the Question Equivocation Non Sequitur Faulty Analogy
Respond
18. Intellectual Property, Academic Integrity, and Avoiding Plagiarism Crediting
Sources in Arguments Citing Sources and Recognizing Plagiarism
Inaccurate or Incomplete Citation of Sources Acknowledging Your Use of
Sources CULTURAL CONTEXTS FOR ARGUMENT Using Copyrighted Internet
Sources Acknowledging Collaboration Respond
19. Evaluating and Using Sources Evaluating Sources Using Sources Cultural Contexts for Argument Respond
20. Documenting Sources MLA Style Sample First Page for an Essay In MLA Style Sample List of Works Cited for an Essay in MLA Style APA Style Respond
